A transportation strike that failed to fully cripple public transportation in Bacolod City ended before noon on Thursday, March 26, with organizers saying they successfully aired their demands for government action versus rising fuel prices.
Approximately 500 drivers and operators gathered at four rally centers to protest the high costs brought on by unrest in the Middle East, Eric Bendoy, secretary general of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center-Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (UNDOC PISTON), said.
Although the one-day strike began at 7 a.m. with a planned 5 p.m. finish, they dispersed at 11 a.m. following a police appeal, citing their lack of a permit to stage their protests, Bendoy said.
Lilian Sembrano, president of the Kabacod Negros Transport Organization (KNETCO), said they agreed to end the rally early since their primary goal of bringing public attention to their grievances had already been met.
Despite the protest, modern and traditional jeepneys continued to ply the streets, ensuring that commuters were not entirely stranded.
They are calling for the abolition of value-added tax (VAT) and excise tax on petroleum products, alongside the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, Sembrano said.
The are also calling for fare increases paired with wage hikes for workers to enable them to cope with rising costs, an end to US-Israel aggression on Iran, and a call for the Philippine government to invest in developing domestic fuel sources, Sembrano said.
Sembrano also clarified that while the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had authorized a P13 minimum fare since October 2023, many drivers had voluntarily charged only P10 to ease the burden on passengers.
However, with fuel costs slashing daily earnings by 50 percent, drivers are now forced to implement the full P13 rate to survive, CJ Jalandoni of KNETCO said.
They are also urging the government to expedite the release of subsidies for public transportation drivers reeling from the economic strain, Sembrano said.*
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